Chapter 15
The Twin Sentinels – The Breaking Point
Miguel's breath came in sharp gasps as he locked eyes with the nearest Sentinel, its glowing gaze burning with an eerie, unwavering intensity. The moment he had separated the two, the tide of battle shifted, but it wasn't over yet. The second Sentinel was already recovering, its form shimmering with the remnants of the energy it had absorbed.
He had to end this quickly.
The isolated Sentinel swung its colossal blade in a sweeping arc, forcing Miguel to [Flash Step] backward just in time. The sheer force of the strike shattered the ground where he had stood, sending debris flying in every direction.
Miguel didn't waste a second. He lunged forward, spear crackling with fire and lightning, aiming for the weakened cracks in the Sentinel's armor.
[Skill Activated: Storm Pierce – Chain Variant]
Electricity surged through his weapon as he struck three rapid blows, each one targeting a fracture in the Sentinel's chest plate. Sparks erupted as the spear bit deep, and for the first time, the colossal warrior faltered. Its glow flickered violently, its movements losing their precise synchronization.
"It's working!"
But then, the second Sentinel let out a deafening, metallic roar. The rubble between them exploded as it [Flash Charged], crossing the battlefield in an instant. Miguel barely had time to react before its shield came crashing down.
The impact sent him flying across the chamber. His back slammed into a broken pillar, pain flaring across his ribs. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand. The second Sentinel had rejoined its twin. Their link was restoring.
Miguel's mind raced. "I can't let them merge their strength again. I need to keep them apart long enough to finish this."
His eyes flickered to the battlefield. The collapsing pillars, the uneven terrain, the remaining debris—it wasn't just an arena. It was a weapon.
A plan formed in his mind.
He sprinted toward another cracked pillar, deliberately drawing the Sentinels' attention. As expected, they moved together, weapons raised. But this time, Miguel was ready.
[Skill Activated: Thunderflame Spear – Overload Variant]
His spear ignited with an intense surge of flame and lightning as he thrust it into the weakened structure. The entire pillar groaned under the force before collapsing entirely, sending a cascade of stone and dust crashing down.
The debris crashed between the Sentinels, separating them once more.
[Environmental Manipulation Successful: Opponent's Recovery Delayed]
Miguel didn't hesitate. He turned to the more weakened Sentinel and charged.
[Skill Activated: Arc Chain – Lethal Variant]
Lightning crackled through his body, amplifying his speed as he spun mid-air, bringing his spear down with devastating force.
The Sentinel shuddered violently as the strike pierced directly through its core. Its glowing energy fluctuated, surging wildly before suddenly imploding. The massive construct collapsed to its knees, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across its armor.
Then, with a final, distorted roar, it shattered.
[First Sentinel Destroyed – Link Severed]
Miguel barely had time to react before the remaining Sentinel let out an enraged wail. Its body pulsed with unstable energy, its once-measured movements now erratic and wild. Without its counterpart, it was no longer in perfect balance—and it was desperate to correct that.
Miguel gripped his spear tighter. "One down. One to go."
The Sentinel lunged, its attacks becoming faster and more unpredictable. It struck with relentless force, no longer holding back. Miguel dodged, countered, and struck wherever he could, but the sheer ferocity of its assault was overwhelming.
He needed one final blow.
As the Sentinel raised its massive blade for a decisive overhead strike, Miguel saw his opening.
He lunged forward at the last possible second, ducking under the swing and driving his spear directly into its exposed core.
[Skill Activated: Titan's Breaker – Ultimate Execution]
A shockwave of raw energy exploded outward, engulfing both Miguel and the Sentinel in blinding light.
The Sentinel froze, its body trembling. Its glowing core flickered violently before—
BOOM!
The last Sentinel shattered into countless fragments, the entire chamber quaking from the force of its destruction. The battlefield fell silent.
[Boss Defeated: Twin Sentinels of Equilibrium]
[Reward Unlocked: Sentinel's Gauntlets – Fourth Piece of the Legacy Set]
A pedestal rose from the ground, revealing a pair of ornate gauntlets, forged from the same celestial metal as the Sentinels themselves. Miguel stepped forward, still catching his breath, and equipped them.
[Equipment Effect: Sentinel's Gauntlets – Increases Reflex Speed and grants Passive Skill: Guardian's Precision.]
Miguel flexed his fingers, feeling the enhanced agility coursing through him. He looked toward the next passage, knowing that the hardest trials were still ahead.
With one last glance at the battlefield, he stepped forward, ready for whatever lay beyond.
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Outside the Game – Observation Room
The tension in the observation room was palpable.
Dr. Halloway leaned forward, eyes locked onto the screen displaying Miguel's vitals. "That was… faster than expected," he muttered, watching as the Sentinels fell.
A junior analyst adjusted his headset. "He's growing stronger at an exponential rate. He adapted to the Sentinels' link in record time."
Another researcher frowned. "It's not just that. His combat efficiency is beyond what we projected. The AI's difficulty scaling is adjusting itself in ways we didn't account for."
Dr. Halloway glanced at the external storm feed. The swirling mass of electrical energy had grown more intense.
"His presence inside the system… it's causing changes."
The junior technician hesitated. "Sir, should we—"
Halloway raised a hand, cutting him off. "No. Not yet. Let's see how far he can go."
The monitors flickered, showing Miguel stepping into the next challenge.
The storm outside rumbled ominously.
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